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Background and purpose: Strengthening the cervical extensor muscles is recommended as a way of prevention and treatment of neck pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two different exercise protocols on isometric strength of the head and neck extensor muscles in healthy subjects. Material and Methods: In this study, a total of twenty-eight healthy females, 20-25 years of age, were randomly allocated into a head and neck-extension strengthening exercise group (n=14) and a shoulder-abduction strengthening exercise group (n=14). Each two study groups performed exercises 3 days/week for 10 weeks. In groups, head and neck muscle isometric strength was measured by an isometric muscle strength measurement device both before and after the intervention. Results: Two study groups showed a significant increase in isometric strength of the head and neck extensor muscles (p<0.001). Although head and neck -extension strengthening exercise group showed more increase in the muscle strength, but the results indicate no significant difference between the two training groups in this regard. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that shoulder-abduction strengthening exercises as well as head- extension strengthening exercises are effective in increasing isometric strength of the extensor muscles. Therefore, when patients are not able to properly perform neck and head exercises due to pain or other limitations, this training program can be used as a suggestion method to strengthen the head and neck extensor muscles.

Keywords: Exercise, Isometric, Extensor muscles, Neck, Head

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